The Arrogance of Power

by Anthony Summers

  Monroe Cornish: John Dean statement, E, Vol. 3, p. 917–; NM, p. 10; WP, June 27, 1973; (Quaker HQ ransacked) Robert Fink article in Rolling Stone, Oct. 10, 1974.

  “Billy Graham Day”: memo Ron Walker to Haldeman, Oct. 14, 1971, Haldeman testimony, E, Bk. 8, pp. 3150–, 3322–, and see Frady, op. cit., p. 455–; Rush, op. cit., p. 55–; int. Ron Walker; int. John Dean in Playboy, undated 1975, Box 168, Baruch Kroff papers, Brown University; (without incident) Sen. Sam Ervin, at E, Bk. 8, p. 3153; (Weicker) ibid., p. 3152; (McGrory) NY Post, June 26, 1973.

  Chapter 27

  “Sick of mind”?: as cited in New York, Apr. 21, 1975 and see Osborne, Last Nixon Watch, op. cit., p. 189.

  RN personality in presidency: (“What do with him?”) Safire, op. cit., p. 112; (“so drained”) Kissinger, White House Years, op. cit., p. 319; (“frustration”) notes of int. Arthur Burns, John Osborne Papers, Library of Congress; (“embarrassing rattle”) Magruder, American Life, op. cit., p. 57; (need for control) Nixon, Six Crises, op. cit., pp. xv, 219 and see John Osborne, The Second Year of the Nixon Watch, New York: Liveright, 1971, p. 58; (“flew into rage”) Kissinger, White House Years, op. cit., p. 495; (Patton) Shawcross, op. cit., p. 134; (“walking add”) ibid., p. 144.

  Cambodia decision: (“flipped out”) Morris, Haig, op. cit., p. 141; (“your ass”) int. William Watts; (“bold stroke”) Ehrlichman calendar entry, Apr. 25, 1970 sited in LAT, July 1, 1984; (“show who’s tough”) int. William Watts; (decision in pool) Kissinger, Upheaval, op. cit., p. 3; (“tensions of planning”/Patton again) Kissinger, White House Years, op. cit., p. 498–; (Patton 5 times) Morris, Haig, op. cit., p. 141; (signed twice) facsimile, Kissinger, White House Years, op. cit., p. 499; (up all night/slurred) Shawcross, op. cit., p.146–; (made much of role) Schlesinger, Imperial Presidency, op. cit., p. 187–; (public reaction) NYT, May 1, 1970; (manufactured) NYT, May 8, 1970; (questionable results) e.g., AMII, p. 360; (RN’s “unbridled ebullience”) Westmoreland, op. cit., p. 388; (macho) AMII, p. 348; (“Everyone misunderstands”) JA, p. 404.

  Hutschnecker visit: (worried re: trigger) DP column, WP, Nov. 23, 1968, and see page 97–; (summoned) JA, p. 404; (RN/H during presidency) int. Dr. Arnold Hutschnecker, Hutschnecker, Drive for Power, op. cit., p. 154– and see Dec. 1, 1969 entry, HD, The Complete Multimedia Edition, Santa Monica, CA: Sony, 1994 [henceforth HD CD]; (“intimacy” absent) JA, p. 404–, citing int. Hutschnecker.

  Lincoln Memorial episode: (machine guns) White, Breach of Faith, op. cit., p. 131; (“nervous breakdown”) ibid; (Dickerson) Dickerson, op. cit., p. 171–; (46 calls) log at Safire, op. cit., p. 204; (accounts of episode) RN to Haldeman, May 13, 1970; ed. Oudes, op. cit., p. 127–, MEM, p. 459–; Safire, op. cit., Ch. 8; (RN declines to visit Wall) Crowley, Off the Record, op. cit., p. 186; (Pelletier, et al.) Price, op. cit., p. 168; Toledo, OH, Blade, May 10, 1970; (“dislocation”) Dickerson, op. cit., p. 175; (RN at Capitol) int. Egil Krogh; (“Very weird”) May 9, 1970 entry, HD, p. 163; (“weirdest”) ibid; (FL decision) ibid; (“could be rough”) May 14, 1970 entry, HD, p. 166; (“only tip”) Kissinger, White House Years, op. cit., p. 514; (“unwinding not succeeding”) May 15, 1970 entry, HD, p. 166; (“More same”) May 16 entry, ibid.; (“emergency housecall”) Winter-Berger, op. cit., p. 257; int. Robert Winter-Berger; (Blue Heart) May 18, 1970 entry, HD, p. 167 and MEM, p. 466; (RN to CA) May 28–May 31, 1970 diary entry, HD, CD; (trouble sleeping) May 29, 1970 entry, HD CD; (“recovering . . .”) Kissinger, Upheaval, op. cit., p. 1184–; (“back to schedule”) June 8, 1970 entry, HD, p. 173; (AP on times spent away) May 31, 1970 entry, HD, CD; (“in a daze”) Thomas, Dateline, op. cit., p. 136; (“erratic”) Dickerson, op. cit., p. 175.

  Doubts re: RN condition: (“never happened before”) Osborne, Watch2, op. cit., p. 61; (frequent slips) ibid., p. 129; (The staff habit) ibid., p. 73; (“created impression”) Brandon, op. cit., p. 260–; (“might go bats”) Osborne, Last Watch, op. cit., p. 5; (“letting himself slip”) May 14, 1970 entry, HD, p. 166; (Tormented) Bryant with Leighton, op. cit., p. 314.

  Romania: Price, op. cit., p. 302–; Aug. 2, 1969 entry, HD, p. 77–; Dennis McCarthy with Philip Smith, Protecting the President, New York: William Morrow, 1985, p. 192–.

  Alcohol in presidency: (“occasional sip”) Spalding, op. cit., p. 116fn; (researchers) The New Yorker, Dec. 14, 1992; (“I got a call”) int. Hugh Sidey in eds. Miller Center, op. cit., p. 305; (“given to exploding”) int. William H. Sullivan in eds. Strober, Nixon, op. cit., p. 99; (“Two glasses”) Kissinger, Renewal, op. cit., p. 54; (“occurred rarely”) ibid., p. 55; (“drunken friend”) Morris, Haig, op. cit., p. 108; (“We caught glimpses”) Hersh, Price of Power, op. cit., p. 108; (“Oh, screw ‘em”) Woodward and Bernstein, Final Days, op. cit., p. 204; (“He just got pissed”) int. Marty Venker; (“People who knew”) Morris, Uncertain Greatness, op. cit., p. 147; (weekend Aug. ’69) Aug. 28–31, ’69 entries, HD, CD; (“bomb” the airport) Kissinger, Renewal, op. cit., p. 57; int. and corr. Melvin Laird; int. Len Garment; (“ghastly game”) MEM, p. 483; (“K woke me”) Sept. 17, 1970 entry, HD, p. 195; (“tough guy” orders”) Kissinger, Renewal, op. cit., p. 57; (“wouldn’t have been good day”) Osborne, Watch2, op. cit., p. 74; (“Stuff that will look belligerent”) Kissinger, White House Years, op. cit., p. 695–.

  RN nuclear talk: (“nuclear war each week!) Isaacson, op. cit., p. 145; (“ranting & raving”) Hersh, Price of Power, op. cit., p. 88; (Vietnam/1954) see page 165–; (“blow that would end”) Reichley, op. cit., p. 117; (“got to nuke ‘em”) Hersh, Price of Power, op. cit., p. 396—Young cited by Ehrlichman aide Egil Krogh; (Colson on Sequoia) Colson, op. cit., p. 40–; May 18, 1971 entry, HD, CD.

  Chapter 28

  “He hated . . . “: eds. Strober, Nixon, op. cit., p. 45.

  “Enemies” lists: (Buckley) Buckley cited in intro. by Eugene McCarthy, White House Enemies, New York: New American Library, 1973, opening p. of intro.; (Kilpatrick) Providence [RI] Journal, Jan. 5, 1974; (Mollenhoff) Mollenhoff, op. cit., pp. 29, 107–, and Mollenhoff affidavit, June 4, 1974, R, Stmt. of Inf., Bk. VIII, p. 38; (Chotiner office) NYT, Jan. 14, 1970; (RN “did not like”) NYT, July 17, 1974, cited in Congressional Record, Aug. 1, 1974, p. 26439; (“ruthless sonofabitch”) WHT, May 13, 1971, cited in WP, Jan. 3, 1997; (priority list for “activity”) memo, [Colson aide] George Bell to John Dean, et al., June 24, 1971, E, Bk. 4, p. 1693–; (Haldeman and Colson would claim) E, Final Report, p. 132; (Dean: “screw our enemies”) memo, Aug. 16, 1971, E, Bk. 4, p. 1689–; (“We have the power”) WHT, Sept. 8, 1971; AOP, p. 29 and monitored for author; (Walters) ints. Johnnie Walters, George Shultz; WP, Jan. 3, 1997; (“kick Walter’s ass”) WHT, Sept. 15, 1972, conv. no. 779-002, WSPF, NA, p. 5; (“blue eyes”) ibid., p. 2; (“candy ass”) WP, Jan. 3, 1997, citing Dean testimony; (list of 200+) E, Bk. 4, p. 1692, intro. McCarthy, op. cit.; (“keep a good list”) E, Bk. 3, p. 958; (Van Horne and RN/Hutschnecker) page 90; (2 lower ranking officials) NM, pp. 24, 106–, 148, memo re: int. Roger Barth, July 31, 1975; Howard Clesner Collection supplied to author, WHT, Aug. 19, Sept. 7, 1972, AOP, p. 107– [referring to Roger Barth and Vernon Acree]; (journalists audited) WP, June 28, 1973; (Greene) E, Final Report, p. 135; NM, p. 24; (“The guy that’s running”) WHT, Sep. 14, 1971; AOP, p. 32; (“The IRS is battering”) WHT, Sep. 13, 1971; AOP, p. 31.

  milestone meeting: (“attack” on Julie) May 28, 1971 entry, HD, p. 292 and see Ehrlichman, op. cit., p. 300; (“more wiretapping”) WHT, May 28, 1971, transcribed for author.

  RN and Edward Kennedy: (“ill at ease”) Kissinger, White House Years, op. cit., p. 100; (Asst. Majority Leader) Theodore Sorensen, The Kennedy Legacy, New York: New American Library, 1969, p. 229.

  Chappaquidick: (RN “called me over”) HD, p. 72: (probe at RN’s behest) ibid. and Haldeman notes, Newsday, Apr. 25, 1994; MEM, p. 543; (undercover man) Ulasewicz, op. cit., pp. 4–, 178, 181, 187–; Wise, Police State, op. cit., p.107; (RN/astronauts) HD, p. 72–; Rather and Herskowitz, op. cit., p. 221; (RN reached Ehrlichman) Wise,
Police State, op. cit., p. 115; (phone to radio) entry, July 6, 1969, HD, p. 75; (RN “sorry”/took aside) MEM, p. 542–; HD, p. 79; and see Safire, op. cit., p. 154–; (phone records) John Davies, The Kennedys, New York: S.P.I. Books, 1992, p. 716; (inquest transcript) memo, Mary DeOreo to Terry Lenzner, Dec. 10, 1973; Hughes-Rebozo investigation, Teamsters File, WSPF, NA; (Kopechne house phone) Wise, Police State, op. cit., p. 155–; (reports to Chotiner/Rebozo) WP, Aug. 1, 1973; (cost $100,000) Rather and Herskowitz, op. cit., p. 226.

  RN pursuit of Edward Kennedy: (Al Capp) Seymour Hersh in The New Yorker, Dec. 14, 1992; NYT Magazine, Oct. 20, 1974; Boston Globe, June 25, 1970; Brit Hume, Inside Story, Garden City, NJ: Doubleday, 1974, p. 60–; (“catch him in sack”) Haldeman with DiMona, op. cit., p. 60; (Colson and “catch Kennedy”) The New Yorker, Dec. 14, 1992; (photo/princess) HD, p. 293, Magruder, American Life, op. cit., p. 66; Matthews, op. cit., p. 289; Hunt, Undercover, op. cit., p. 206; (polls spring ’71) NYT Magazine, July 22, 1973; (“Nothing for Teddy?”) WHT, Apr. 9, 1971, transcribed for author; (one not enough) WHT, July 6, 1971; AOP, p. 25; (Colson man) Hunt, Undercover, op. cit., pp. 160, 178, 205; (NY apartment) Wise, Police State, op. cit., p. 120; Hunt, Undercover, op. cit., p. 208; (Vegas girls) ibid., p. 182; (“No evidence) blind memo, re: EMK Visit to Honolulu, Aug. 1–19, 1971, Exhibit 34-4, E, Bk. 3, p. 1117; (RN disappointed) WHT, Sep. 8, 1971; AOP, p. 29; (False “drunk” story) Cheshire, op. cit., p. 190–; (Gallup) WP, Dec. 9, 1971; (“Do you think”) Seymour Hersh article, The New Yorker, Dec. 14, 1992; (RN still insisting) int. Tim Wyngaard, by Stanley Kutler, supplied to author; (“Plant one, plant two guys”) WHT, Sep. 7, 1972; AOP, p. 132 and see WP, Feb. 8, 1997; (Butterfield) ibid.; eds. Strober, Nixon, op. cit., p. 263; Journal of American History, Mar. 1989, p. 1253; (“might get lucky”) WHT, Sep. 7, 1972, transcribed for author; (“Did we”) WHT, Mar. 13, 1973, R, Stmt. of Inf., Bk. III, Pt. 2, p. 874.

  RN White House and Humphrey: (impropriety?) Ulasewicz, op. cit., p. 183–, citing Woods memo and see WHT entries, Sep. 8, 1971; AOP, p. 28; (detective etc.) Magruder, American Life, op. cit., p. 202, E, Final Report, p. 192; NM, p. 165; (“lay off”) WHT, Aug. 3, 1972; AOP, p. 115.

  RN White House and Muskie: (“all out attack”) Sep. 26, 1970 entry, HD, CD; (“lib” mailings) HD p. 213, and see WHT, Jan. 12, 1972, cited in WP, Oct. 30, 1997; (trawled Maine) Wise, Police State, op. cit., p. 132, citing Ulasewicz int., John Caulfield testimony, E, Bk. 19, p. 9276; (“monkish”) WHT, Sep. 8, 1971; AOP, p. 29; (docs. photographed) E, Final Report, p. 187–; (RN was told) WHT, Mar. 21, 1973, Record Grp. 460, Box 171, NA; (Chapin orchestrated) E, Final Report, p. 163–; NM, p. 158; (“massive mailing”) WHT, Jan. 12, 1972, cited in WP, Oct. 30, 1997; (Humphrey/Jackson smears) NM, p. 157–, E, Final Report, p. 169–; (Chapin pleased) ibid., p. 170; (home address) ibid., p. 165; (set at throats) ibid., p. 158–; NM, p. 158; (“Let’s prove”) E, Report, p. 164; (RN approved?/write-in for Kennedy) ibid., p. 202, Jeb Magruder citing Charles Colson to this effect; (article re: Mrs. Muskie) NM, p. 162–, and see Mark Lane, Plausible Denial, New York: Thunder’s Mouth, 1991, p. 202–, citing Gordon Liddy’s testimony, Sep. 25, 1973, R, Bk. VII, Pt. 2, p. 3769; (Muskie tears) NM, p. 163; (“tear to pieces”) WHT, Aug. 7, 1972; AOP, p. 124; (“chicken shit”) WHT, May 11, 1973; AOP, p. 454.

  RN and Wallace: (“most seriously”) MEM, p. 542; (Sherry Netherland handover) “Safe Deposit Boxes” file, Carmine Bellino Papers, courtesy of Bellino family, E, Bk. 5, p. 2142–, E, Bk. 4, p. 1536–; (RN behind payments) WHT, Mar. 21, 1973, HD, p. 168; (IRS probe) Mollenhoff, op. cit., pp. 109, 114, and see Dan Carter, The Politics of Rage, New York: Simon & Schuster, p. 389–.

  Vietnam ’71: (“Can you believe?”) Wise, Politics of Lying, op. cit., p. 19–; (N. Viet. troops) “Kissinger and the Betrayal of S. Viet.” by Stephen Young, 1995, orig. draft for Wall Street Journal, provoided to author and transcript; Seymour Hersh int. of John Negroponte, provided to author; (“thugs”) see Chap. 26, supra.

  Tricia wedding: (“Family proud of”) Troy, op. cit., p. 193; (chefs/cakes) Bryant with Leighton, op. cit., p. 311; Troy, op. cit., p. 193; (jokes) NYT Magazine, Oct. 20, 1974; (wedding described) NYT, June 13, 1971; (RN/Pat dance) Troy, op. cit., p. 193, Klein, op. cit., p. 3; int. Herb Klein.

  Pentagon Papers: (“another headline”) MEM, p. 508; (publication saga) David Rudenstine, The Day the Presses Stopped, Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1976, and Sanford Ungar, The Papers and “The Papers,” New York: Dutton, 1972; (98%) MEM, p. 509, and see eds. Strober, Nixon, op. cit., pp. 206, 209.

  5 perjurers: ed. Hedda Garza, The Watergate Investigation Index, Wilmington, DE: Scholarly Resources, 1985, p.vii, the fifth man was Herbert Porter.

  RN/Kiss. reaction: (“Get story out”) Rudenstine, op. cit., p. 74; (“clear disloyalty”) HD, CD, June 14, 1971; (“no contact”) ibid., June 15, 1971; (“fired/” wants to be sure”) ibid., June 17, 1971; (“pleasure”) ibid., June 16, 1971; (Kissinger) Rudenstine, op. cit., p. 72; (“Too unsteady”) Kissinger, White House Years, op. cit., p. 730; (“destroying us”) Colson, op. cit., p. 59; (“irrational”) Pete Kinsey, memo to files, re: Colson int. Jan. 13, 1975, Box 16, Farago Papers, Mugar Library, Boston University; (cables) Colson, op. cit., p. 60; int. Charles Colson for “Watergate: The Break-in,” Part 1, Brian Lapping Associates Production for Discovery Channel and BBC, Discovery Communications, 1994, home video.

  Ellsberg: (background) Rudenstine, op. cit., p. 33–; Sheehan, op. cit., p. 12–; (“bloody”) Shapley, op. cit., p. 487; (“murder”) eds. Strober, Nixon, op. cit., p. 200; (“shut me up”) ibid., p. 201; (“brightest”) Rudenstine, op. cit., p. 121–; (“weird sexual habits . . .”) Haldeman with DiMona, op. cit., p.110; (sex/children) Hersh, Price of Power, op. cit., p. 385; (Hiss) HD CD, June 17, 20, 24, 29, July 1, 1971; (RN “weakling”) Haldeman with DiMona, op. cit., p. 110.

  “Bombing halt”/Brookings: (RN ordered/“blackmail”), MEM, p. 512; WHT, June 17, 1971, transcribed for author; WP, Jan. 24, 1997; (‘68 ploy) e.g., MEM, p. 327; (“I wanted it back”) MEM, p. 512; (“Implemented”) WHT, June 17, 1971, supra.; (“You’re to break into”) WHT, June 30, 1971, transcribed for author and see AOP, p. 6; WP, Nov. 22, 1996, Jan. 24, 1997, also SF Examiner, Nov. 21, 1996; (“Now you do it”) WHT, July 1, 1971, transcribed for author, and see AOP, p. 7, SF Examiner, Nov. 24, 1976; WP, Nov. 22 & 23, 1996, Jan. 24, 1997; NYT, Oct. 31, 1997; (“Who’s going to?”) WHT, July 1, 1971, Conv. 534-5, Segmt. 1, transcribed for author; AOP, pp. 10, 13; (“I really meant it”) WHT, July 2, 1971; AP, Oct. 5, 1999; AOP, p. 17.

  Brooking break-in attempts: (Caulfield) E, Bk. 22, p. 10359–; (Dean) eds. Strober, Nixon, op. cit., p. 225; Dean, Blind Ambition, op. cit., p. 47, and Dean article in Rolling Stone, Sep. 8, 1974; (“cased the joint”) handwritten notes of John Dean int., Watergate Task Force, Box 125, 1 of 3, E, NA; (veteran guard) WP, Nov. 23, 1996, re: Roderick Warrick; (2nd reconnaissance) Ulasewicz with McKeever, op. cit. p. 232; (other operatives) Liddy, op. cit., p. 236; Liddy testimony, Mark Lane, Plausible Denial, New York: Thunder’s Mouth, 1991, p. 202, operatives were Gordon Liddy and Howard Hunt, see this Ch., note 13; (Colson disclaimer) Charles Colson testimony Dec. 5, 1974, U.S. v. John Mitchell, NA; (Ehrlichman called off/RN knew) Ehrlichman, op. cit., p. 368; (“Don’t discuss”) WHT, June 30, 1971, transcribed for author.

  Howard Hunt: (“talk to Hunt”) WHT, June 30, 1971, transcribed for author; (“Colson never told me”) WHT, Apr. 28, 1973; AOP, p. 372; (RN mentioned Hunt’s name) WHT, June 30, 1971, transcribed for author; (“kind of a tiger”) WHT, July 1, 1971; AOP, p. 13; (Colson knew) Colson, op. cit., p. 62; (Haldeman/Hunt) WHT, July 1, 2, 1971; AOP, pp. 14, 19; (“first-rate analyst”) WHT, Aug. 12, 1971; AOP, p. 27; (Colson/Hunt/6 men) Colson, op. cit., p. 62; (“dirty guy”) HD, CD, July 2, 1971; (“I want to alert”) transcript of call, July 7, 1971, R, St. of Info., Bk. II, p.467.

  Plumbers: (RN/San Clemente) Wicker, op. cit., p. 644–; Pete Kinsey, memo to files, re: int. Charles Colson, Jan. 20, 1975, Box,
Farago Papers, Mugar Library, Boston University; (“Mr. Young”) MEM, p. 514; NM, p. 80–; (Krogh inexperienced) White, Breach, op. cit., p. 149.

  Liddy: (and Nazi Germany) Liddy, op. cit., p. 22–; Hougan, Secret Agenda, op. cit., p. 37–; (guns/killing) Summers, Official & Confidential, op. cit., pp. 406, 413; NM, p. 86; Magruder, American Life, op. cit., p. 174; (“cowboy”) NM, p. 87; (“LIDDY” Page) advertisements on the “Official G. Gordon Liddy Web Page, Real Time Internet Services, Inc. 1996–2000, posted March 2000; (“best memo”) Liddy, op. cit., p. 250.

  RN/Hoover/Ellsberg: (RN wanted Hoover gone) Summers, Official & Confidential, op. cit., p. 412; (“Hoover assigned”) Ehrlichman, op. cit., p. 143 and see MEM, p. 513; (“2 people”) Ehrlichman testimony, E, Bk. 6, p. 2626; (disappointed/E’man approval) Bud Krogh and David Young to John Ehrlichman, Aug. 11, 1971, E, Bk. 6, p. 2644; (actual break-in) NM, p. 97–; (“vital importance”) E, Report, p. 120, citing Nixon speech, May 22, 1973 and see R, Trans. of Recorded Pres. Conv., Mar. 21, 1973, p. 112; (“had to be discredited”) MEM, p. 513; (“painted evil”) Haldeman with DiMona, op. cit., p.116; Douglas Hallett, Colson aide in NYT Magazine, Oct. 20, 1974; (“neutralized”) E, Report, p. 121; (Krogh told author) ints. Egil Krogh; (“direct action”) Ehrlichman, op. cit., p. 365 and int. John Ehrlichman; (“I briefed Ehrlichman”) RN/Colson conversation, WHT, Aug. 12, 1971; AOP, p. 27–; (“one little operation”) RN/Ehrlichman, Sept. 8, 1971, transcribed for author; (“There wasn’t anything”) Ehrlichman testimony, E, Bk. 7, p. 2804; (“Goddamn to hell”) RN/Ronald Ziegler, May 14, 1973; AOP, p. 492; (“I am stuck with”) RN/Alexander Haig, Fred Buzhardt, May 16, 1973; AOP, p. 512; (“I believe somehow”) ibid., p. 510; (“I did not authorize”) E, Report, p. 120, citing Nixon speech, May 22, 1973; (“Did I know about it?”) ints. Egil Krogh; (“I was so damn mad”) Haldeman with DiMona, op. cit., p. 114, Ehrlichman, op. cit., p. 367 and int. John Ehrlichman; (“I do not believe”) MEM, p. 514; (Ehrlichman surmised) Ehrlichman, op. cit., p. 368; (Colson denied) Charles Colson testimony, R, Bk. III, pp. 271, 455 and Colson, op. cit., pp. 225, 251; (Colson privy) Howard Hunt to Charles Colson, July 28, 1971, E, Bk. 9, p. 3886, Ehrlichman to Colson, Aug. 27, 1971, E, Bk. 6, p. 2651; (“It would be hard”) int. Alexander Haig in eds. Strober, Nixon, op. cit., p. 224.